More Lake Co. Bike Paths Planned Thanks To State Grants

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — More biking and walking options will be available along Randall Road in Lake in the Hills and Crystal Lake thanks to a $3 million state grant.

Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced more than $127 million will be awarded to municipalities and county transportation departments throughout the state through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.

A Lake County Division of Transportation project was among 72 projects in Illinois selected to receive funds for biking and walking paths, trails, streetscape beautification and other projects designed to encourage safe travel. In total, the local transportation department will receive $2.4 million to construct Phase 1 of the four-phase Patriot Path project.

The funds will cover construction of a 5.5-mile project along the Route 137 corridor, which will connect the existing Des Plaines River Trail in Libertyville to the Robert McClory Bike Path in North Chicago.

Other local projects receiving funds include:

• Beach Park: A total of $1.6 million in funds has been awarded to the village of Beach Park to install a bike and pedestrian side path and sidewalk on a large section of Sheridan Road. The path will run along Sheridan Road in Beach Park and will include improvements to the intersections of Wadsworth Road and York House Road.
• Mundelein: The village of Mundelein has been awarded $1.52 million for road remonstration and streetscape improvements on East Hawley Street. The project will connect two key regional bike paths, the Millennium Trail and the North Shore Bike Path by filling a gap in the existing path network.

Made possible by federal and state funds administered by the Illinois Division of Transportation, Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program awards are focused on improving bike and pedestrian travel, as well as making other surface transportation improvements that promote alternative options for getting around communities.

IDOT received 213 applications for projects worth an estimated $337 million for the current cycle. The next call for projects will come in late 2024, with a 2025 award announcement. All 72 projects selected to receive Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grants can be found here.